Outdoor Lighting in Seattle, WA (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Seattle, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Seattle Municipal Code regulates outdoor lighting through zoning standards in §23.45 (residential) and §23.47A (commercial). Fully-shielded fixtures are required on new commercial installations, light trespass is capped at 0.5 foot-candles at residential lines, and recent rules cap color temperature at 3000K. Seattle works with King County on regional dark-sky alignment.
Seattle Outdoor Lighting & Light-Trespass Rules
Some RestrictionsLight Trespass
Seattle addresses light trespass through land use code development standards and general nuisance provisions, requiring outdoor lighting to be directed downward and shielded to prevent spillover onto adjacent properties.
Seattle Light Trespass Regulations
Some RestrictionsLooking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Seattle city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in King County →